Do LED Lights Attract Bugs in 2022?

Do LED lights attract bugs? Are they worse for insects than traditional incandescent bulbs? How can you keep these pests away from your home and still have outdoor lighting?

See below for the answers to these questions! By better understanding the science, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which LED lights are best for your home.

Have you ever wondered why bugs are attracted to light?

However, the main reason that most bugs are attracted to light is that they mistake it for the moon at night. This is especially true for moths, who use the sun to navigate. When they see a bright light, they think it is the sun/moon and fly toward it. Unfortunately, this often leads them into danger, as they can end up flying into windows or being eaten by predators.

If given the choice, bugs would actually use moonlight to travel and navigate their path. However, with so many lights in the streets, in people’s homes, and in other areas that bugs may seem — like lightbulbs — they get confused about where they’re supposed to go. They end up going toward these lights because they think the artificial light is coming from the moon.

Bulbs emitting shorter wavelengths attract more bugs because they imitate moonlight. These are generally going to be the bulbs that are a very cool white or even blue-tinted color. Bug see bulbs better when they are yellow, orange, or red-tinted and emit longer wavelengths.

Do LED Lights Attract Bugs?

Now that we know a little more about why bugs are attracted to light, let’s talk about LED lights. Do LED lights attract bugs?

The answer is: it depends. Some people say that LED lights do attract more bugs than other types of light bulbs, while others say there is no difference. So what’s the truth? Do LED lights really attract bugs? Let’s take a closer look at this topic to find out.

What type of lightbulb emits shorter wavelengths? As we mentioned before, shorter wavelengths generally attract more bugs because they imitate moonlight. These are generally going to be the bulbs that are a very cool white or even blue-tinted color.

Not only this, but LED lights also don’t give off ultraviolet light, which is another thing that attracts bugs. In fact, many insects are drawn to black UV lights.

If you pick an LED light that has a longer wavelength (as we talked about earlier), you won’t have to face these problems. LEDs are available in various types, so it’ll be easy for you to find some that work well for this particular application.

While no light spectrum will completely keep bugs at bay, certain spectrums are more effective than others. If you’re looking to minimize the number of insects attracted to your space, go for bulbs with longer wavelength light.

LED vs Incandescent Light Bulbs: Which Is Worse for Bugs?

The answer is yes. In fact, most lightbulbs — not just LEDs — will attract some bugs.

Contrary to popular belief, bugs are not actually attracted to all lightbulbs equally. They care about the color and heat of the light more than anything else. If you want bulbs that will attract fewer bugs, focus on those with a cooler temperature and softer colors on the spectrum.

The easiest way to determine which colored light bulb to use is by understanding what type of bugs are in your area and what colors they’re attracted to most.

If you don’t have the time to do that sort of research, follow our previous suggestion: bulbs with longer wavelengths will result in fewer bugs. As incandescent light bulbs produce more heat, bugs are naturally attracted to them. LED bulbs produce less heat, so bugs are less attracted to them.

How LED Lights Can Help to Get Rid of Bugs?

One way is to use a bug zapper. Bug zappers usually come with an ultraviolet light that attracts bugs, which then get electrocuted when they touch the metal grid. If you’re using an LED bug zapper, make sure that the light is not too bright. A dim light will be less noticeable to bugs and won’t attract as many of them.

Another way to use LEDs to get rid of bugs is by using them in conjunction with other pest control methods. For example, you could use LED lights to attract bugs and then trap them in a jar or container.

Final Words

We hope this article has helped to clear up any confusion you may have had about LED lights and whether or not they attract bugs. As we’ve seen, LED lights can actually attract bugs — but there are still some ways you can use them to get rid of insects. With a little bit of creativity, you can use LEDs to your advantage in the fight against pests.

Originally published at https://ledlightstation.com on November 4, 2022.